Flat pattern image generation of internal structure data

Abstract

Three-dimensional image data of an object is generated by an x-ray CT or magnetic resonance imaging system, and used to produce a flat pattern of the whole surface image of the object. An imaginary slit is provided in a three-dimensional space of the three-dimensional image data, and the image seen through this slit is generated by volume rendering. The above operation is repeated as this imaginary slit is moved along the periphery of the object of the three-dimensional image data. The generated image data are arranged laterally to produce a flat pattern. All the three-dimensional image data are not processed by volume rendering, but only the portion limited to a depth is processed to prevent the structure information of the rear side of the object from being mixed in the flat pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flat pattern generating method for generating a flat pattern from three-dimensional image data of an object having a hollow structure, comprising: a step (1) of determining a locus within said hollow structure along which a viewing point is moved;   a step (2) of providing said viewing point at a certain point on said locus and determining a plane orthogonal to said locus and including said viewing point;   a step (3) of rotating said viewing point by a predetermined angle up to an angular range of 360 degrees in said determined plane so as to visualize the internal structure of said object from said viewing point, thereby producing an image of one line;   a step (4) of moving said viewing point along said locus and repeating said step (3), thereby producing a series of images of one line each; and   a step (5) of linearly arranging said generated series of images of one line each to produce a two-dimensional image.   
     
     
       2. A flat pattern generating method for generating a first pattern from three-dimensional image data of an object having a hollow structure, comprising: a step (1) of determining a locus within said hollow structure along which a viewing point is moved;   a step (2) of providing said viewing point at a certain point on said locus and determining a plane orthogonal to said locus and including said viewing point;   a step (3) of determining a contour of said object in said determined plane;   a step (4) of moving said viewing point by an equal interval at time along said contour, determining a tangent to said contour at each point of said viewing point, providing an eye vector perpendicular to said tangent, and visualizing the internal structure of said object through said viewing point to produce an image;   a step (5) of moving said viewing point along said locus and repeating said steps (2) to (4) to produce a series of images; and   a step (6) of arranging said generated series of images to produce a two-dimensional image as said flat pattern.   
     
     
       3. A flat pattern generating method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining a portion to be displayed by scanning three-dimensional image data on said eye vectors which extend from said viewing point, and making image generation processing by use of three-dimensional data ranging from the position of said determined portion to a predetermined depth in the direction of said eye vectors.